A former Sky News Australia presenter has accused the network of being ‘evil’ and pushing pro-Israel ‘propaganda’ in a fiery spray in which she suggested she was axed because of her differing views on the Middle Eastern conflict.
Daily Mail first revealed last month that Liz Storer, who co-hosted The Late Debate panel show with Caleb Bond, had vanished from screens in June without any explanation from the network.
She resurfaced this week in an interview with fellow ex-Sky host Chris Smith on his Radio 2SM show on Tuesday, where she made wild claims that the network had an ‘alliance’ with Israel.
The network’s line-up includes numerous pro-Israeli commentators who have taken a sympathetic line on the Jewish State during the conflict following Hamas’ slaughter of Israelis and kidnapping of hostages on October 7, 2023.
In a wild spray – where she did not single out any reporter or executive but spoke of the network as a whole – Storer described the TV station as having an ‘alliance’ with Israel ‘that began before Sky News Australia even existed.
‘They are only going to pump out the same propaganda that Israel has done so relentlessly.
‘I just don’t believe that you can believe that anymore. I was a believer. I changed my tune.
‘And now I’m no longer at Sky, and those two things are very much related.’
Liz Storer (pictured) was axed as one of the hosts of Sky New Australia’s The Late Debate, which she co-hosted with Caleb Bond
Liberal activist Freya Leach (left) has replaced Storer as a host on Sky News Australia’s Late Debate
She went on to describe ‘evil’ being afoot at the network – ‘far more… than you can possibly imagine’.
‘If you have a conscience, if you have a single firing neuron in your brain going, “Hang on a minute. You mean to tell me everybody else but Sky News Australia is lying?”
‘That doesn’t match up.’
She added: ‘So yeah, when it comes to Israel, I wouldn’t get your news from Sky News Australia.’
A Sky News source pushed back on Storer’s claims, flatly denying the existence of a ‘pervasive pro-Israel editorial stance at Sky News’.
The insider claimed Storer often had separate views on matters unrelated to Israel-Palestine that ‘made it really risky to be on air.’
Storer has previously drawn criticism for her support of groups widely regarded as far-right.
In 2024, she clashed with fellow Sky News co-host Joe Hildebrand over her endorsement of Germany’s nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a moment that was later scrutinised on ABC’s Media Watch.
In March, she sparked further controversy during an on-air exchange with now-permanent co-host Freya Leach, where she defended a proposed law in Hungary that would criminalise attendance at the Budapest Gay Pride Parade.
The law, which would impose fines of up to AUD$857, also grants police the authority to use facial recognition technology to identify and pursue attendees.
Storer (pictured) has suggested that her criticism of Israel was behind her dismissal at the network
Sky has not commented on Storer’s suggestions that she was axed for her changed views on the Middle Eastern conflict, but a source at the network told Daily Mail there was no ‘pervasive’ pro-Israel editorial stance at Sky
Storer was approached for comment.
Former federal opposition leader and NSW Independent MLC Mark Latham claimed last month that Sky had dismissed Storer over her stance on Israel.
Latham, who was fired from Sky News in 2017 following a series of controversial comments on the program Outsiders, accused the network of hypocrisy.
‘It’s disgraceful for Sky News to advertise itself as a champion of free speech while sacking a popular presenter for the thought crime of not being as lavishly sycophantic to Israel,’ Latham told Daily Mail at the time.
Storer has since been replaced by rising network figure Freya Leach, a former Liberal candidate for Balmain.
Sky has not commented on Storer’s suggestions that she was axed for her changed views on the Middle Eastern conflict.
Coincidentally, Chris Smith – whose radio show Storer was appearing on – was also dismissed by Sky in 2022 following an alleged incident at a work Christmas party.
A Sky spokesperson was approached for comment.
